Stay Healthy This Winter

In the world of Functional Medicine, we know that what you eat can improve the strength of your immune system, the efficacy of your body’s detoxification pathways, and your overall anti-inflammatory response. Imagine how it would feel not to catch colds, the flu, or nagging coughs this winter! What you choose to eat is as important as what you choose to avoid, and your choices can boost your body’s natural resistance to all the “bugs” floating around. So, here are colorful, satisfying, and delicious ways to enjoy “food as medicine” this winter.

An apple (or two) a day

For a satisfying sweet snack, have an apple with a handful of nuts, or topped with almond butter. Apples provide soluble fiber to support intestinal health, and almonds give you a healthy dose of protein.

Spice-up homemade applesauce with a vanilla bean and cinnamon stick. According to Chinese Medicine, apples quench thirst, strengthen the heart, lubricate the lungs, decrease mucous, and increase body fluids: all of which support immune health.

Eat your greens

Bake a spinach pie, toss a kale salad, or gather a mess of collard greens to fortify your immune system with anti-oxidants and vitamins.

Juice raw greens with carrots, beets, and apples to get the most out of the water-soluble vitamins and enzymes that enhance cells’ well-being.

Enjoy your berries

Add berries to your fruit-smoothie or baked crisp for added fiber, anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, and vitamins that support a healthy immune system.

Eggs Florentine (poached over spinach) supports the liver’s detoxification activity and provides vitamin A for the immune system.

Drink plenty of fluids

Herbal teas are warming: mint, ginger, Echinacea, chamomile, and rosehips are just a few that support immune health.

Marrow broth soups are warming, healing, and hydrating.

Avoid sugar and alcohol, the immune system’s enemies.

Support digestive health with an elegant cocktail of seltzer with lemon, lime, or bitters (Argostura bitters or herbal digestive bitters). Bitters can be found in a liquor store, and herbal bitters are available on our online store.

Snacks such as nuts, olives, and hummus keep blood-sugar balanced and nourish the body and soul.

Poached pears with pureed raspberries make a nutritious dessert that fights bacteria and viruses.

And don’t forget to get enough sleep

Try an Epsom salt bath with a few drops of lavender oil before bed to detoxify and relax.

Make a bedtime tea from passion flower, hops, chamomile, and lemon balm. There are a number of good bedtime teas on the market including Yogi Bedtime and Sleepytime.

Winter can be tough, unless you are mindful about what you eat and how you take care of yourself. You can make it through with health and vitality, by eating foods that support optimal health! Food is medicine, but it also should be pleasure.

The best way to get through winter is to embrace it. With my new pair of snowshoes, I can go outside in the sunshine on a snowy day, and feel energized rather than confined. Nothing beats a snowshoe walk followed by gentle yoga and a cup of tea. I hope this brings the same smile to your face that it brings to mine.